New Technology Gateway At IT Sligo

An exciting new gateway of opportunity for developing businesses in the precision engineering, manufacturing and materials sectors was officially opened on Friday at the Institute of Technology, Sligo with the formal opening of the new Precision Engineering and Manufacturing (PEM) Technology Gateway.

Funded by Enterprise Ireland, the PEM Technology Gateway was launched by the Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen T.D.

The PEM Gateway provides a resource network targeted at companies based both in the North West and nationally. It aims to give companies an opportunity to develop their business through collaborative research and development while networking with other businesses in the area.

The network has a particular focus on start-ups and SMEs, enabling companies to source technology solutions for their ‘close-to-market’ needs.

The Technology Gateway Programme was established by Enterprise Ireland (EI) to provide business development resources to the Institutes of Technology to help them interact with industry on a local, regional and national basis. As part of this network IT Sligo is receiving €275,000 over a two-year period (Jan 1, 2016 – Dec 31st 2017) from EI.

“The PEM Gateway now established in IT Sligo is a significant addition to this network, delivering high tech innovative solutions in precision engineering, manufacturing and materials. The Technology Gateways have a proven track record of working seamlessly with industry and the PEM Gateway will further incentivise business ideas with potential for growth in the North West region, providing access points to companies of all sizes, particularly start-ups and SME’s.”

The new President of IT Sligo, Dr Brendan McCormack, said the new Technology Gateway was an endorsement of region’s expertise and heritage in precision engineering, tool making and manufacturing over the past forty years, and also represented another pillar in the collective industry ambition for region to establish a world class Centre of Excellence in the manufacturing of precision engineered products.

“The North West of Ireland is striving to build an economic base that will provide livelihoods for its people and that will support vibrant communities across the region,” he said.

“It is our responsibility to help ourselves and to develop strategies which will be build up the region and help create an environment which entices our future younger generations to stay and work in the region.”

The new PEM Technology Gateway at IT Sligo will be managed by Alan Hernon, whose main role will be to secure, manage and successfully deliver industry projects and solutions for the Technology Gateway industrial partners.